Elections Act 2022

Amendments to the Representation of the People Act 1983

4 (1) Paragraph 1A is amended as follows.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1)(a), for the words from the first “who is” to the end substitute “within sub-paragraph (1A),”.

(3) After sub-paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) The following persons are within this sub-paragraph—

(a) a person who is registered in a register maintained by the registration officer;

(b) a person who is named in—

(i) an application for registration in, or alteration of, a register,

(ii) an application (including a partially completed application) under section 13BD, 13BE or 13C, or

(iii) a relevant absent voting application.

(1B) In sub-paragraph (1A)(b)(i), the reference to an application for registration in, or alteration of, a register includes a reference to a partially completed application submitted through the UK digital service.”

(4) After sub-paragraph (5) insert—

“(6) In sub-paragraph (1), the reference to disclosing information includes, in relation to verifying information relating to a person who is named in a relevant registration application or a relevant absent voting application, references to disclosing evidence provided by a person in connection with the application.

(7) In this paragraph—

(a) “relevant absent voting application” means—

(i) an application (including a partially completed application) under paragraph 3, 4 or 6 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000, other than an application in relation to a local government election, or local government elections, in Scotland or Wales, or

(ii) an application (including a partially completed application) under section 6, 7 or 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1985;

(b) “relevant registration application” means an application (including a partially completed application) for registration in, or alteration of—

(i) a register of parliamentary electors, or

(ii) a register of local government electors in England,

and includes a form (or partially completed form) in connection with a canvass under section 10;

(c) “the UK digital service” means a digital service provided by a Minister of the Crown for the registration of electors, and the reference in sub-paragraph (1B) to an application submitted through the UK digital service is a reference to an application submitted using that service as an intermediary.

(8) A notice, including a partially completed notice, under section 8(9) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (cancellation of proxy appointment) is to be treated as a relevant absent voting application for the purposes of this paragraph.”